[This post is from Phelan’s point of view.]
“Is it making you vulnerable to gods only know what, too?” David’s gaze shifted back to Lin, his brow furrowing slightly. “It just feels like shit hits me so much harder than it does the rest of them.”
“That’s because it kind of does,” Lin said, glancing from him to Tory and then to Phelan. “It’s a side effect of the Otherworld blood—of the Aes Dana blood in you. Some things just hit us harder and worse.”
David squinted at him for a few seconds, then nodded slowly. “Is that what’s going on with you, too?”
“Bingo,” Lin said with a wry smile. “I got ambushed in the ravines out there. Not sure if you’ve gotten to see them yet.”
David shook his head slowly. “I don’t really remember anything after we crossed the river.” He looked at Bryant and Isabelle. “We’re not that far beyond it, right?”
“No,” Isabelle said quietly. “No, we’re not. I wasn’t sure if you were quite awake even when we crossed the river.”
“I was, barely.” David scrubbed a hand across his eyes. “Was trying to hang on until we got here.”
“Well, at least you managed to stay in the saddle most of the way,” Bryant said, drifting back toward the door. “I’m going to go take a walk.”
“Might try up toward the forge,” Phelan said, glancing at him. “Especially if you wanted to talk to Matt.”
Bryant smiled faintly and inclined his head before he slipped out the door. It clicked softly shut behind him. David seemed to slump slightly at his friend’s departure, tilting his head back to stare at the ceiling.
“I’ve dragged all of them out here chasing something I wasn’t sure we’d find.”
“Well, sounds like we found it,” Isabelle said, squeezing his hand even as her gaze strayed toward Tory. “Though I don’t blame any of you for thinking this is crazy. Most of us did at first, but we weren’t going to let him go alone.”
“Thanks for that.” A trace of sarcasm threaded through David’s voice. Phelan couldn’t help but smile.
“The important things sound pretty crazy pretty often,” Phelan said. “You get used to it.”
“Do you?” his nephew asked.
Phelan just nodded. “Aye. You do.”
